Hydraulic concentrator



April 29, 1958 E. J. PIERCE HYDRAULIC CONCENTRATOR Fild Dec. 18, 1953 m. 6Q x 1 m M l A .N Q m .QQQWNNQQ 139$ k6 EQKQMQG. E. \V m Q Q s. a & 3

A ril 29, 1958 E. J. PIERCE HYDRAULIC CONCENTRATOR Filed Dec. 18, 1953 INVENTOR. 50W? @5245 6; r76? flrrozveVs a M T A ril 29, 1958 E. J. PIERCE I 2,832,472

HYDRAULIC CONCENTRATOR Filed Dec. 18, 1953 JNVENTOR. Lea/44 0 .1 Pmeuz United States Patent HYDRAULIC CONCENTRATOR Edward J. Pierce, Morro Bay, Calif. Application December 18, 1953, Serial No. 398,929 Claims. (Cl. 209-442) The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for hydraulically recovering from a mix any desired size and form of concentrate.

The present invention involves a method and apparatus of concentrating ores and the like in which the original mix is presented to a main or primary flow of water or other fluid which tends to Wash the mix into an inclined and vibrating separation chamber or sluiceway while, at the same time, a secondary and controlled flow of fluid passing through the concentrating chamber commingles with the primary flow and the mix so that the exact size and form of concentrate desired may be separated, regardless of its size, form or density. i

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for concentrating ores and the like which permits accurate regulation of the size and form of the concentrate recovered.

Another object of the present invention is to achieve such accurate regulation of the size and form of the concentrate by means of the secondary flow of water passing through the concentrating chamber, which secondary How of water may be regulated to vary the concentrate as desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of this type which is simple, durable and economical of construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of this character in which the sluiceway or separating chamber isof restricted cross section so that separation is accomplished with liquid and mix occupying the entire cross section of the sluiceway to thereby achieve improved operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of this character featured by the fact that the primary and secondary flows of liquid are in the same direction to achieve an improved tumbling and separating action of the mix.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of this character in which the mix and primary flow of liquid is introduced into the separating chamber or sluiceway at a point intermediate its ends, at which point there is a commingling of a secondary flow of water with such primary flow and mix to achieve an improved separating action with a secondary flow of water, however, in its initial passage through the sluiceway serving to accomplish an additional separating action.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of this character in of Water, as well as the iiow of separated concentrate, may be regulated jointly in a precise manner required for efiicient separation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of this character in which the angle of tilt of the vibrating sluiceway or separating chamber may be conveniently adjusted without the necessity of altering the driving connection to the sluiceway.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of this character in which the sluiceway is en which the secondary flow Gan closed by a transparent top plate to allow visual observation of correct operating conditions, namely, the absence of air bubbles or air spaces in the sluiceway or separating chamber.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of this character in which both the angle of tilt, as Well as the amplitude of excursions of the sluiceway or separating chamber, may be conveniently adjusted independently of each other.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of this character incorporating an improved sluiceway or separating chamber.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of this character incorporating novel valving means for jointly controlling the flow of secondary fluid and the separated mix.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of apparatus embodying features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 4.

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views tak n on corresponding lines 3-3 and 4-d of Figure 5.

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views taken on corresponding lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the ins 7-7 indicated both in Figures 5 and 8.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an exploded view showing in perspective certain elements of the sluiceway or separating chamber.

Figure 10 is an exploded view showing in perspective elements of the sluiceway base illustrated in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 11-11 of Figure 5. t

Figure 12 is a sectional view corresponding to the sectional view illustrated in Figure 11 and serves to illustrate the manner in which a manually operable valve is arranged to jointly control the flow of concentrate and secondary fluid, such concentrate and secondary fluid flowing in opposite directions as indicated.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line ill-13 of Figure 11.

In general, the mix is introduced into a hopper ll) mounted on a carriage 12 so that such mix may flow by gravity through the mix conduit 13 (Figures and 3) onto a ledge or baflie member 15 from which the mix is moved in a direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 3 by fluid, i. e., water, introduced in the fluid inlet 17 and constituting a so-called primary fiow of liquid. Such primary flow of liquid conimingles with the mix in the mixing zone 18 which is of tapered cross section as shown in Figure 3 and the resulting mix and fluid enters the separation chamber or sluiceway 20 at a point intermediate the ends of such sluiceway, at which point such resulting mixture is intermingled with a secondary stream or flow of fluid, i. e., water, which flows in the same general direction as the primary flow to cause further disbursement and tumbling of the solid portions of the mixture. Such secondary iiow of Water originates at one end of the sluiceway or separation chamber at the inlet conduit 22 (Figures 11 and 12). The liquid constituting such secondary flow enters through the supply conduit 23 and valve 24 which is in communication with the inlet 22 as shown in Figure 4.

This so-called secondary flow of water represented on opposite ends thereof.

3 by the arrows in Figure 12 is generally over and above the heavy concentrates 26 resting on the floor of the sluiceway and in its movement through the space defined between the inlet conduit 22 to the region27 (Figure 3) which is immediately below the forward end of the-tapered baflle 15, such secondary flow serves to wash and to carry the lighter concentrates, which may for some reason or other be in that region, to a position where such lighter concentrates are removed by the combined primary and secondary flows. The he: desired concentrates move in a direction opposite to the direction of the primary and secondary flows and pass through the conduit 22, as illustrated in Figure 12, and through the flexible neck 32 of a bag 34. On the other hand, the undgired or lighter components of the original mix follow the general course of the primary and secondary liquid flows and are ejected from the sluiceway through the outlet conduit 35 together with the liquid constituting such primary and secondary flows. As is mm, and.

described later, provisions are made for vibrating the separation chamber or sluiceway 20 and also for controlling the angle of tilt of the same.

Now that the general function of the apparatus is outlined above, a detailed description of the same follows.

The apparatus is mounted on a base 40 on a pair of upstanding braced bracket or frame members 46A which extend upwardly on opposite sides of the base 40. Such members 40A each carry on the upper free ends thereof, a bearing 43B (Figure 4) for rotatably mounting a cylinder, shaft or bearing member 43, such element 43 being hollow and being aflixed to the pivoted carriage structure 45. By this means, the carriage structure 45 is pivotally mounted on the base 40 and is mounted in different adjusted tilted positions by a conventional pivoted link and clamping structure 43 illustrated in Figure 1 and comprising a slotted link 49 having its lower end pivoted on the base 40 and the slotted portion thereof engaged by a conventional manually operated clamping member 50 mounted on the carriage 45. This shaft 43, as shown in Figure 5, is provided with collars 43A and 43B on opposite ends thereof to prevent longitudinal movement thereof. The shaft 43 is purposely made hollow to advantage so as to snugly receive a shaft 52 having pulleys 53 and 54 (Figure 5) mounted This shaft 52 is rotated by the motor to eflect reciprocation of the separation chamber 20 using the structure presently described.

The motor 60 has a pulley 62 mounted on its output shaft. A belt 63 travels over the pulleys 62 and 53 to drive the aforementioned shaft 52 and the pulley 54. Another belt 65 passes over the pulleys 54 and 66 to rotate the shaft 68 (Figures 5, 7 and 8) which has its opposite ends journalled for rotation in the carriage structure 45. Rotation of this shaft 68 produces oscillatory movement of the connecting rod 70 the throw or amplitude of excursions of which may be adjusted. For this purpose, the connecting rod'70 is provided with an eccentrically located apertured portion 72 which snugly receives the cammed portion 74 mounted on the shaft 68. The connecting rod 70 is adjustably secured to such cammed portion 74 by a pair of set screws '75. This structure thus in effect provides a crank arm, the length of which may be adjusted. The other end of the connecting rod 70, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, is connected to a bearing block 78 which in turn is secured to the under side of the movable separation chamber or sluiceway 20. Such sluiceway 20 is slidably mounted in the carriage structure 45, using for that purpose a series of slide structures 80 as illustrated in Figures 4 and 2. Each slide structure 80 comprises an apertured bearing block 82 secured on the under side of the sluiceway or separation chamber 20 and a guide pin 84 having opposite ends thereof secpged to the carriage structure 45. By these means, it is clear that rotation of the shaft or motor 60 causes reciprocation of the sluiceway or separation chamber 20 in the carriage 45. Further, such carriage 45, being pivotally mounted at a point intermediate its ends, is maintained in different adjusted positions by the aforementioned means 48 (Figure l). The amplitude of excursions of the separation chamber 2t) may be adjusted within a range by adjustment of the crank structure illustrated in connection with Figures 7 and 8. Further, these two adjustments, namely the angle of tilt of the separation chamber 20 and its amplitude of excursions, may be adjusted independently without the necessity of altering the motor driving connections, this being due to the fact that the motor driven shaft 52 is concentrically disposed in the shaft 43 of the carriage 45.

The separation chamber 20, as illustrated in connection with Figures 9 and 10, comprises generally an elongated box of rectangular internal cross section as shown in Figure 6, with connecting conduits 22 and 35 (Figure 4) at opposite ends thereof and with a pair of conduits 13 and 17 at an intermediate point along the length of the separation chamber.

The separation chamber is preferably made of light plastic material and the internal walls thereof are preferably lined with some wear-resistant material. The separation chamber 20 comprises generally a U-shaped trough which is closed at opposite ends thereof and which is in communication with the aforementioned conduits 22 and 35 (Figure 4). Disposed within such trough 90 is a baflle structure 92. Such baffle structure 92 comprises a base member 94 having three series 95, 96 and 97 of spaced baffle bars extending upwardly therefrom, each series being spaced as shown in Figure 10. These baflie bars, as shown in Figure 6, extend generally vertically upwardly but terminate short of the upper boundary of the trough 90 which is covered by the cover plate 98. The baflle bars in a particular series are spaced to provide four channels as shown in Figure 6 through which the heavier material may flow in a controlled path; and further, such flow of heavier concentrates is equalized in the spaces or regions 99 and 100'(Figur'e 9) between the series of baffle bars 95 and 96 on the one hand and between the baffle bars 96 and 97 on the other hand. It is noted that the centermost one of the series baflle bars 92 is prolonged to engage the baffle member 102 (Figures 9 and 11) so as to properly space the baflle structure 92 in the trough 90 with a space or region 104 where the flow of heavier concentrates may again be equalized.

Preferably the top cover plate 98 is transparent to allow observation of conditions within the separation chamber 20 whereby the apparatus may be adjusted so that there are no air bubbles or air pockets but a solid column of water and/ or mix in the separation chamber.

Since the separation chamber 20 vibrates within the carriage structure 45, flexible connections are provided. These flexible connections include the flexible conduit connecting the mix hopper 10 with the mix inlet 13;

'a flexible hose 112 connecting the fluid inlet line 115 with a valve 116 therein to the inlet 17 through which the primary flow of fluid enters; a flexible hose 117 is connected between the outlet 35 and the coupling 118 which is also in communication with the flexible outlet line 119; and the conduit 22, through which the secondary flow of fluid enters and the heavier desired concentrates leave, is connected through the flexible hose to the conduit 126 and to the fluid inlet line 23 having the valve 24 therein. Thus by providing these flexible connections, the separation chamber 20 is free to be reciprocated, as described above, in the carriage structure 45.

As explained above, the primary and secondary flows of water originating respectively at the conduits 17 and 22 are both in the same direction and the secondary flow initially passes over the heavier concentrates before it intermingles with the primary flow. In practice it has been found that the rate at which the secondary flow assume occurs is critical and for that reason precise means are incorporated herein for adjusting the same. These means involve a special valve element 130 (Figure 11) which is in the nature of a flap movable by the adjustment screw 132 carrying the handle 134 on its free end. The screw 132 is threaded in an end wall 133 of the separation chamber 26 and is provided with a ball 135 at one of its ends engageable in a cooperating ball shaped socket in the valve member 13% More specifically the valve member 130 comprises a generally rectangular piece of material 149 having its upper end maintained in sandwich relationship between spaced portions of the trough member 96 and such fiexible member Mil is sandwiched between a pair of generally rectangular plates 142 and 143. The valve element 13% is supported generally as a cantilever and is movable to restrict jointly the rate of the secondary fiow as well as the rate of flow of the concentrate. The curved tapered baffie member mounted in the trough member 9i? is provided for the general purpose of providing separate channels for the secondary flow on the one hand and for the flow of heavy desired concentrates on the other hand, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 12. The rate at which the heavy desired concentrates move is controlled to a certain extent by the rate of the secondary fiow since these two flows are in opposition to each other although it is desired that preferably no inter-action be between the two and for that purpose the curved baffle member 1% is provided.

Preferably the top plate 95 of the separation chamber is removable, as shown in Figure 9, to gain access to the interior of the chamber for repair, adjustment or replacement purposes.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

l. in a concentrator of the type wherein a mix is washed the improvement comprising in combination, means defining a first passage for a primary flow of liquid, means defining a second passage for a secondary flow of liquid, an open-ended baffle member between and defining said first and said second passages, a conduit through which mix is directed onto said baffle, liquid conduit means in communication with said first passage and arranged to direct said primary flow of water in a path extending from the position on said baffle at which the mix is deposited thereon to the open end of said baflle, liquid conduit means in communication with said second passage and arranged to direct said secondary flow of liquid therethrough, said primary and secondary flows of liquid both converging in the same direction towards the open end of said bafi le and comrningling and flowing in the same direction beyond the end of said bafle, a third passage in communication with said first and second passages at the end of said battle, the liquid from said first and second passages flowing in the sam direction in said third passage, said third passage having a limited cross sectional area so that said third chamber is completely filled, without air space, by the resulting mixture which includes said mix and liquid from said firs and second passages.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, characterized by the fact that a concentration chamber is disposed below said baifie and in communication with said second passage.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said first, second and third chambers are formed in a single unitary vibratory structure, and means are provided to vibrate said vibratory structure in the direction of the flow of mixture through said third chamher.

4. The method of recovering values from a mix in a concentration chamber which comprises the steps of discharging said mix to a first washing area; contacting the discharged mix with a primary flow of water in said first Washing area to produce a mixture of water and said mix and to flush said mix to a secondary enclosed washing area through which said primary flow passes in a first direction; said enclosed area being spaced vertically below said primary area and laterally beyond said first washing area in said first direction so that said primary flow imparts a tumbling motion to said mix, contacting the flushed mixture with a secondary flow of water which commingles with said primary flow and flows in the same direction as said first direction, to force wastes in said mixture through said enclosed area and upwardly, While allowing values in said mixture to pass downwardly in a direction opposite to said first direction against said primary and secondary flows of water and into said concentration chamber, said primary and secondary fiov/s being of sufficient volume to completely fill said enclosed area without air space in the same and vibrating said mix ture.

5. The method of recovering values in a concentrating chamber from a mix which comprises the steps of discharging said mix to a first washing area; contacting the discharged mix with a primary flow of water to produce a mixture of water and said mix and to flush said mixture to a secondary enclosed washing area through which said primary flow passes in a first direction; said enclosed area being spaced vertically below said primary area and laterally beyond said first washing area in said first direction so that said primary flow imparts a tumbling motion to said mix, contacting the flushed mixture with a secondary flow of water which commingles with said primary fiow and fiows in the same direction as said first direction to force wastes in said mixture through said enclosed area and upwardly, While allowing values in said mixture to pass downwardly in a direction opposite to said first direction against said cominingled primary and secondary flows of Water and into said concentrating chamber, and controlling the amount of said secondary flow of water to regulate the values concentrated in said concentrating chamber, said primary and secondary flows being of sufficient volume to completely fill said enclosed area without air space in the same and vibrating said mixture.

6. The method of recovering values in a concentrating chamber from a mix which comprises the steps of discharging said mix to a first washing area; contacting the discharged mix with a primary flow of water in said first washing area to produce a mixture of water and said mix and to flush said mixture to a secondary enclosed washing area through which said primary flow passes in a first direction, said enclosed area being spaced vertically below said primary area and laterally beyond said first washing area in said first direction so that said primary flow imparts a tumbling motion to said mix; contacting the flushed mixture with a secondary flow of water which commingles with and flows in the same direction as said first direction to force wastes in said mixture through said enclosed area and upwardly, while allowing values in said mix to pass downwardly in a direction opposite to said first direction against said primary and secondary flows of water and into a concentrating chamber, said primary and secondary fiows being of sufiicient volume to completely fill said enclosed area without air space in the same and vibrating said mixture.

7. In a concentrator of the character described, a base, a carriage, a separating chamber slidably mounted in said carriage, means pivotally supporting said carriage on said base, said means comprising a first shaft secured to said carriage and being journalled for rotation. on said base, means for reciprocating said separating chamber on said 7 carriage, the last mentioned means comprising: a second shaft coaxially arranged with said first shaft, a motor on said base, a pulley on said second shaft and driven by said motor and reciprocating means interconnecting said second shaft With said separating chamber.

8. In a concentrator arrangement of the character described, a separation chamber comprising an elongated trough, a liquid inlet near one end of said trough, a liquid outlet near the other end of said trough, said liquid inlet serving also as an outlet for heavier desired concentrates, baifie means near said liquid inlet tending to prevent the liquid entering said inlet from disturbing the flow of concentrate leaving said inlet, a valve element in said chamber, means for manually adjusting the position of said valve element to control the rate of flow of fluid through said inlet, a mix hopper, a second liquid inlet, a preliminary mixing chamber for mixing the mix from said hopper with the liquid from said second liquid inlet, said preliminary mixing chamber having an outlet for directing the mixture of said mix and the fluid from said second inlet toward said outlet.

9. In a concentrator arrangement of the character described, a separation chamber comprising an elongated closed trough, said closed trough having a cover member,

said trough having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, respectively, near opposite ends thereof directed downwardly, a bafiie structure in said trough, said bafiie structure comprising a plurality of series of baffle bars, each series being spaced in the longitudinal direction of said trough, said cover member having a mix outlet and a liquid inlet in close proximity to each other and intermediate of said cover member, baflie means carried by said cover member defining a preliminary mixing chamber for the mix from said mixture hopper and the liquid from said liquid inlet, said baffle structure being also arranged to direct a mixture of said mix and said liquid towards said liquid outlet.

10. The arrangement set forth in claim 9, including a manually operated valve member in the first mentioned liquid inlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 354,989 Nichols Dec. 28, 1886 853,459 Isbell May 14, 1907 1,065,213 Campbell June 17, 1913 1,140,764 Paige May 25, 1915 

